Honors Experiential Learning Project Proposal Form – Global Studies Complete and submit this proposal in your e-portfolio (for those with iWebfolio portfolios) or email to honors@uc.edu (if you do not have an e-portfolio in iWebfolio). Basic Information Full Name: Irini Sfyris UC ID #: M04243878 UC Email: sfyrisii@mail.uc.edu Phone: 513-687-8938 College: Engineering and Applied Sciences Major: Freshman Engineering Program Title of Project: French Exploration Expected Project Start Date: Mid-late July 2012 Expected Project End Date: Early-mid August 2012Project Information 1. Provide a brief overview/abstract of your proposed honors experiential learning project. As my honors experience, I plan to visit France in order to practice the language that I’ve devoted so much time and energy to learn, as well as observe a culture that I’ve only read about in my textbooks for French class. I plan to research the history of the areas where I will be visiting and use that knowledge to make connections while actually there. Throughout the trip, I will avoid speaking English whenever possible in order to strengthen my language skills. 2. Clearly state how each of the following elements will be exhibited in your work (refer to the first two pages of this document with the full description of what is expected in each of these areas).

1. Substantial Content and Quality within Global Studies Theme

Ideally, I’d like to travel with a friend, starting in Italy and taking trains to our destinations, possibly staying in hostels or friends’ houses. I hope to spend a week in France, visiting areas along the Riviera, famous for both their history and natural beauty. My wish-list of places to visit includes Paris, Nice, Aix-en-Provence, and Arles. I hope to visit museums and art galleries as these cities, Paris and Arles in particular, have rich cultures and histories all their own (with Paris being the cultural center of the francophone world and Arles being an ancient Roman city). In order to accomplish this, I will have to spend countless hours watching airline ticket prices in hopes of catching the lowest fare, as well as research on the best options for accommodations (a hostel, for example) and transportation (train ticket options and prices). Having planned a trip like this before, I know how much work is required and have experience getting it accomplished, hopefully making this an easier process than the last time. In France I hope to gain an understanding of French culture and just immerse myself in the language to refine my speaking skills in French. In order to learn more about the history of each place, I’ll read books and travel guides, as well as talk to locals that sometimes know more stories than what a book could tell me. At the very least, this experience will fulfill three learning objectives. By traveling to new places and reading about the history of the area, I’ll learn about geography and history, and because I’m traveling to two countries, I’ll see firsthand the similarities and differences between two different cultures on top of the one in which I live on a daily basis. I definitely plan on talking to people and seeing how their lives might differ from mine. And by traveling so far and interacting with the people and the country, I’ll gain more of an understanding of what it means to participate in a global society. Preparations for this trip would include reading relevant books on topics such as history and social customs, as well as watching movies to gain some understanding of the language and culture. Possible readings might include: Platt, Polly. Savoir-Flair: 211 Tips for Enjoying France and the French. London: Culture Crossings, 2000. Print. Carroll, Raymonde. Cultural Misunderstandings: The French-American Experience. University of Chicago UP, 1990. Print. Useful courses might include: 15FREN114 –Extended Basic French 4 15FREN115 –Extended Basic French 5 15FREN116 –Extended Basic French 6 15FREN251 –Comp and Conv 15FREN252 –Comp and Conv 15FREN253 –Comp and Conv 2. Connection to Academic Goals and Theories

It is important for me to visit France because I’ve never been there and have always wanted to go, especially since I studied the language for five years and even took AP French (on which I received a 5, so I almost think I’m obligated to visit at least once). Since my last French class was in Junior year of high school, I’ve been away from a language that I really enjoy for a very long time, so I’d really like the opportunity to not only speak it again, but learn it in context, rather than in a classroom. And it would just be a new experience in a new country with a different culture from the ones that I’m familiar with. Even though it seems like language studies don’t seem directly relevant to engineering majors, it is absolutely untrue. We are become a global society and it is becoming more important than ever to understand that, as well as be able to communicate and function within it. For example, I’m particularly interested in biomedical engineering and with skills in both French and Italian, I would be able to co-op in either of those places. Language skills make you much more attractive to companies looking to hire, and they give you more opportunities to travel and work in exciting places, as opposed to staying in an office in Cincinnati.

3. Initiative, Independence and Creativity

This project is completely self-designed. I’m not doing this through a program and I’m doing this for my own benefit because I enjoy the languages and cultures. I’ve been passionate about studying French language and culture, but never had the opportunity to actually visit and see how I can apply all of my classroom studies or see what I’m missing from learning a language out of a textbook. For me, this is a way to explore the culture, history, and art of a country in a way that I could never appreciate in a classroom. Because most of my time traveling has been spent following family around, I would like to take this opportunity to be mostly on my own, while at the same time being close to family who can provide support throughout the experience, and a friend to make it that much more enjoyable.

4. Reflection & Dissemination

I plan to document this trip through a blog that will include photographs of my travels. It will be a daily account of my experiences and what I’ve learned in each place. It will be a sort of journal that incorporates what I’ve learned through readings and conversation as well as some reflection on my part of my thoughts and opinions of each place. I plan to focus on several themes in these reflections, including connections to history, art and culture, as well as a discussion on what I liked and did not like about something. This blog will be publicly available for anyone to read.

5. Adviser (list the person’s name, title, and contact information)

Roz Gallaspie Adj Instructor Rosalind.gallaspie@uc.edu

6. Budget (if applicable)

Because this experience will take place in the peak season, airplane tickets will be very high. On the low end, I expect tickets to cost around $1200, though this number is extremely flexible as tickets can range from $900 (if you’re very, very lucky) up through $1500 (if you’re not). Because I’m also going to be taking several trains, I expect to spend about $500 in that area. To spend 6 nights in hostels, I would budget $300. Overall, this trip should cost around $2000. Due to the project date being so far away, the budget at this point cannot be anything but extremely tentative.